Date Title & Details Speaker Listen Download
01/31/2024
Precepts Class – 5

This class is about the 16 Bodhisattva Precepts, the ethical guidelines of Zen practice. The class prepares those who wish to take Jukai in February, as well as allowing everyone to explore how to work with these in everyday life. This year’s preceptor is Gyoshi.

Categories: Wednesday Classes

Mike Gyoshi Kaplan
01/28/2024
Integration of Formal Practice

This talk centers around questions of how to integrate formal practice into ordinary daily life. Our formal practice can feel separate from our everyday way, and at times, we might long for it to be otherwise. Questions around integrating precept work, mindfulness, sesshin, and zazen are not uncommon.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Mark Sosetsu Stauffer
01/24/2024
Precepts Class – 4

This class is about the 16 Bodhisattva Precepts, the ethical guidelines of Zen practice. The class prepares those who wish to take Jukai in February, as well as allowing everyone to explore how to work with these in everyday life. This year’s preceptor is Gyoshi.

Categories: Wednesday Classes

Mike Gyoshi Kaplan
01/21/2024
Hiding the Self

Jiko explores a concept from Developmental Psychology of the true self and the false self in the light of Buddhist practice. In what ways do we hide, and in what ways do we hope to be seen?

Categories: Dharma Talks

Sallie Jiko Tisdale
01/14/2024
Bodhisattva Posture

This isn’t a talk on body mechanics, but on how, as aspiring bodhisattvas, we situate ourselves in relation to the suffering around and within us. How do we structure our life, how do we frame the events and interactions around us in a way that nurtures and expresses our bodhisattva nature?

Categories: Dharma Talks

Kakumyo Lowe-Charde
01/10/2024
Precepts Class – 2

This class is about the 16 Bodhisattva Precepts, the ethical guidelines of Zen practice. The class prepares those who wish to take Jukai in February, as well as allowing everyone to explore how to work with these in everyday life. This year’s preceptor is Gyoshi.

Categories: Wednesday Classes

Mike Gyoshi Kaplan
01/07/2024
The Perfect Quilt

Jyoshin uses an illustration from her hospital chaplain work to talk about some of the ways we get caught trying to be perfect and in so doing lose sight of the reality and importance being present with things as they are.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Jyoshin Clay
01/03/2024
Precepts Class – 1

This class is about the 16 Bodhisattva Precepts, the ethical guidelines of Zen practice. The class prepares those who wish to take Jukai in February, as well as allowing everyone to explore how to work with these in everyday life. This year’s preceptor is Gyoshi.

Categories: Wednesday Classes

Mike Gyoshi Kaplan
12/17/2023
Everyday Practice

Dogen says, “Continuous practice, day after day, is the most appropriate way of expressing gratitude. This means that you practice continuously, without wasting a single day of your life”. What does continuous practice look like in our everyday lives?

Categories: Dharma Talks

Shin’yu Vitells
12/03/2023
We Can’t Help but Smile

As Rohatsu begins, we consider our relationship to awakening. Is it near or far? Vast or ordinary? Sometimes we can’t help but smile.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Sallie Jiko Tisdale
11/29/2023
Foundational Teachings – 10

This annual class explores Buddhism’s foundational teachings, covering topics such as the Buddha’s life, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, Karma and Rebirth, Dependent Origination, the Paramitas and other aspirational practices, as well as contributions from some of our important Zen ancestors.

Categories: Wednesday Classes

Daigai Filbert, Shin’yu Vitells
11/26/2023
Include Everything

Chan Master Hongzhi instructed us, “Contact phenomena with total sincerity, not a single atom of dust outside yourself.” Gyoshi explores implications of this instruction.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Mike Gyoshi Kaplan
11/19/2023
Kakumyo’s Dharma Talk

Categories: Dharma Talks

Kakumyo Lowe-Charde
11/15/2023
Foundational Teachings – 9

This annual class explores Buddhism’s foundational teachings, covering topics such as the Buddha’s life, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, Karma and Rebirth, Dependent Origination, the Paramitas and other aspirational practices, as well as contributions from some of our important Zen ancestors.

Categories: Wednesday Classes

Daigai Filbert, Shin’yu Vitells
11/12/2023
Orienting on a Pathless Path

During the Mountains and Waters Wilderness Retreat, we spend time as a group learning to navigate and orient as we journey and explore. Orientation skills are helpful not only when we get turned around or confused about where we are; when we need to change direction and explore uncharted territory; or when we are traveling off trail; but also to be at ease with being part of what is wild and unconditioned. This talk shares themes related to Zen practice.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Mark Sosetsu Stauffer
11/08/2023
Foundational Teachings – 8

This annual class explores Buddhism’s foundational teachings, covering topics such as the Buddha’s life, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, Karma and Rebirth, Dependent Origination, the Paramitas and other aspirational practices, as well as contributions from some of our important Zen ancestors.

Categories: Wednesday Classes

Daigai Filbert, Kyri Kengan Trieman
11/05/2023
Religion is Not Something for a Special Group of People

For Founders Day, Jiko talks about Keido Chisan, whose enlightened approach to Zen practice proved critical to the making of our temple today. On this day we pay homage to our most recent ancestors, even as we remember that each of us must find the path that is ours alone.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Sallie Jiko Tisdale
11/01/2023
Foundational Teachings – 7

This annual class explores Buddhism’s foundational teachings, covering topics such as the Buddha’s life, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, Karma and Rebirth, Dependent Origination, the Paramitas and other aspirational practices, as well as contributions from some of our important Zen ancestors.

Categories: Wednesday Classes

Daigai Filbert, Shin’yu Vitells
10/22/2023
Relics

As we approach our annual Sejiki Sesshin, Genko looks at both karma and how we work with it and at those who have died in the past year and how these relics of the past remain part of our lives.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Genko Rainwater
10/18/2023
Foundational Teachings – 6

This annual class explores Buddhism’s foundational teachings, covering topics such as the Buddha’s life, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, Karma and Rebirth, Dependent Origination, the Paramitas and other aspirational practices, as well as contributions from some of our important Zen ancestors.

Categories: Wednesday Classes

Daigai Filbert, Shin’yu Vitells
10/15/2023
Fall Sangha Forum

Twice a year, the sangha has an opportunity to hear from our governing bodies and to ask questions and give feedback. The Sangha Forum takes the place of a dharma talk. At the forum, the sangha has an opportunity to hear from our governing bodies and to ask questions and give feedback. The Board of Directors sponsors the fall forum, and gives updates. The Dharma Council also presents updates.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Daigai Filbert, Shin’yu Vitells
10/11/2023
Foundational Teachings – 5

This annual class explores Buddhism’s foundational teachings, covering topics such as the Buddha’s life, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, Karma and Rebirth, Dependent Origination, the Paramitas and other aspirational practices, as well as contributions from some of our important Zen ancestors. Note: sound quality is poor due to interference, which has since been eliminated.

Categories: Wednesday Classes

Daigai Filbert, Shin’yu Vitells
10/08/2023
Realizing Emptiness Through Abundance

In this talk Flying Fish looks at the paramita of generosity as a gateway to awakening. The more we are able to let go the more we are able to connect to the tender heart of wisdom.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Flying Fish Murphy
10/04/2023
Foundational Teachings – 4

This annual class explores Buddhism’s foundational teachings, covering topics such as the Buddha’s life, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, Karma and Rebirth, Dependent Origination, the Paramitas and other aspirational practices, as well as contributions from some of our important Zen ancestors.

Categories: Wednesday Classes

Daigai Filbert, Shin’yu Vitells
10/01/2023
Dharma Talk by Jyoshin

Categories: Dharma Talks

Jyoshin Clay
09/27/2023
Foundational Teachings – 3

This annual class explores Buddhism’s foundational teachings, covering topics such as the Buddha’s life, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, Karma and Rebirth, Dependent Origination, the Paramitas and other aspirational practices, as well as contributions from some of our important Zen ancestors.

Categories: Wednesday Classes

Daigai Filbert, Shin’yu Vitells
09/24/2023
Readiness and Receiving

Kakumyo explores some themes from the Lotus Sutra and Dogen relating to our ability to absorb Dharma. Where do we find it, what gets in the way, and what does that tell us about reality? [Note: apologies for the poor quality of the recording.]

Categories: Dharma Talks

Kakumyo Lowe-Charde
09/20/2023
Foundational Teachings Class – 2

This annual class explores Buddhism’s foundational teachings, covering topics such as the Buddha’s life, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, Karma and Rebirth, Dependent Origination, the Paramitas and other aspirational practices, as well as contributions from some of our important Zen ancestors.

Categories: Wednesday Classes

Daigai Filbert, Shin’yu Vitells
09/17/2023
Don’t Worry

Categories: Dharma Talks

Sallie Jiko Tisdale
09/10/2023
The Three Tenets

The Three Tenets of the Zen Peacemaker’s Order are: Not Knowing, Bearing Witness, and Taking Action. We’ll look at the practice of sesshin through the lens of these three tenets.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Shin’yu Vitells
09/03/2023
Practicing Together

Sosetsu talks about two slogans – Practicing Together and Be a Good Ancestor – and a little about sports.

Categories: Dharma Talks

Mark Sosetsu Stauffer
08/27/2023
Term Opening

Jyoshin talks about forms: how we work with form and practice in a big-picture view. 

Categories: Dharma Talks

Jyoshin Clay
Date Title & Details Speaker Listen Download

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